Hospital bed



R. D. DEWEY HOSPITAL BED Nov. 1, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7, 1962 Rom/d Q. Dewy INVENTOR.

R. D. DEWEY Nov" 1, 1966 HOSPITAL BED 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1962 Rona/a 0. Dewey ZNVENTOR R. D. DEWEY HOSPITAL BED Nov. 1, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. '7, 1962 INVENTOR.

Ranam ,0. Dewey Nov. 1, 1966 R. D. DEWEY 3,281,872

HOSPITAL BED Filed Nov. 7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4 72 20 1 J14 //a A Rana/0 @Wy 1N VENTOR.

R. D. DEWEY HOSPITAL BED Nova 1, 1M

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. '7, 1962 Rana/0 7. Dewey JNVENTOR.

Nov. 1, 1966 R. D. DEWEY 3,2M,872

HOSPITAL BED Filed Nov. '7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Roma! 0. 0@ my I N VENTOR.

3,281,872 HUSI-I'IAL BED Ronald D. Dewey, Plover, Wis, assignor to .Ioerns Bros. Furniture (10., Stevens Point, Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Nov. 7, I962, Ser. No. 235,954 8 Claims. (Cl. 5--63) This invention relates to an adjustable bed construction particularly suited for hospital use by means of which the mattress supporting spring frame may be elevated or lowered as needed.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an adjustable bed construction, adjustment of which is facilitated by a novel actuating mechanism and control assembly equally loaded for both elevating and lowering purposes and involving a minimum of parts cooperating in an efiicient and smoothly operating manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable bed construction featuring telescoping post assemblies capable of receiving and supporting thereon support elements of auxiliary frame assemblies such as supporting rods of an overbed frame, the telescoping posts being protectively shielded from dust when not being used for auxiliary frame supporting purposes.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel arrangement of a cable actuating mechanism at the foot end of the adjustable bed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable bed construction which may be alternatively controlled through the cable actuating mechanism by manual manipulation or by a power device adapted to be mounted at a most convenient location in driving relationship to the actuating mechanism.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the adjustable bed construction from a foot end thereof with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the head end of the adjustable bed construction with parts broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 2a is a side elevational view of the foot end of the bed construction.

FIGURE 3 is a partial front elevational view of the head end of the bed construction as viewed from section line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 77 in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 88 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 9 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 9-9 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective View of the upper end portion of an inner leg assembly projecting from a broken away portion of an outer post assembly.

nited States Patent 3,28L872 Patented Nov. ll, 1966 FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 11I1 in FIG- U'R-E 4.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the cable actuating assembly.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of one terminal end portion of the cable.

FIGURE 14 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 1414 in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURES 1, 2, 2a, 3 and 12, that the adjustable bed generally referred to by reference numeral includes a head end frame assembly 12 supported between a pair of outer post assemblies 14 and 16, each of said post assemblies mounting intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, a spring supporting bracket 18 by means of which a mattress supporting spring frame may connect the head end of the bed to the foot end thereof which includes a foot end frame assembly 20 supported between a pair of post assemblies 22 and 24 similar in construction to the post assemblies 14 and 16. Each of the post assemblies is therefore formed from a tubular member 26 preferably rectangular in cross section telescopically receiving therewithin an inner leg assembly 28. Each of the leg assemblies 28 associated with the respective post assemblies, are interconnected by means of a flexible cable assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 30 as more clearly shown in FIG- URE 12. The cable assembly is further connected to an actuating mechanism generally referred to by reference numeral 32 mounted at the foot end of the bed by means of which each of the post assemblies may be simultaneously elevated or lowered with respect to the supporting leg assemblies so that the bed spring frame supported therebetween by the supporting brackets 18, may be elevated and lowered for mattress height adjustment purposes. Associated with the actuating mechanism 32 is a control brake assembly 34 and a manual crank assembly 36.

Referring now to FIGURE 12 in particular, it will be observed that the cable assembly 30 includes a pair of cables 38 disposed on opposite longitudinal sides of the bed having terminal end portions 40 at opposite ends as more clearly seen in FIGURE 13 by means of which the cable is anchored to the upper end portions of the inner leg assemblies 28 associated with the post assemblies at the opposite head and foot ends of the bed. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 10, the upper end 42 of the inner leg assembly 28 receives therewithin, an anchoring member 44 to which the threaded section 46 of the cable terminal portion 40, is connected by means of the nut 48. A slot 50 is also formed at the upper end portion of the inner leg assembly through which the terminal end portion 40 of the cable is exposed, the cable extending downwardly through the inner leg assembly which includes a tubular member 52 which is geometrically similar in cross section to the cross-sectional shape of the outer post assembly with which it is associated.

With continuing reference to FIGURE 10, it will be observed that mounted adjacent the upper end 42 of each of the inner leg assemblies 28, are a plurality of spaced slide bearing elements 54 interconnected by the band 56 securing the slide elements to the tubular member 52 of the inner leg assembly. The slide bearing elements 54 are preferably made of nylon or other suitable bearing material for slidably engaging the inner Wall surfaces of the tubular member 26. The tubular member 26 is also provided adjacent the lower end 58 thereof with a similar slide bearing arrangement 60 as shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 3 for slide bearing contact with the projecting lower end portion of the inner leg assembly to which caster wheel assemblies 62 are connected. Disposed within each of the inner leg assemblies, is a retracting spring member 64 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the lower ends of said spring members being anchored to the inner leg assembly by a transversely extending anchor pin 66. The upper ends of the spring members 64 on the other hand, include an elongated shank portion 68 terminating in a hook 70 secured to a post cap assembly generally referred to by reference numeral 72 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 9 and 10. Thus, the retracting spring members 64 associated with each of the post assemblies will be operative to bias the associated inner leg assembly toward a retracted position with respect to the post assembly so as to normally urge the bed to its lower adjusted position. The cable assembly 30 will however hold the post assemblies in extended position with respect to the supporting leg assemblies by tensioning of the cable members 38 through the actuating mechanism 32. Each of the cable members is therefore anchored to the upper end portion of the inner leg assembly as hereinbefore indicated and extends downwardly through the inner leg assembly and out there from by being entrained about a pulley wheel. Accordingly, each of the post assemblies 14 and 16 is provided with pulley wheel supporting brackets 74 which rotatably mount pulleys 76 extending into the outer post assembly and inner leg assembly so that the cable member 38 may be entrained thereabout so as to accommodate an approximately 90 degree turn of the cable. The cable members 38 therefore extend from the post assemblies 14 and 16 toward idler pulley members 78 rotatably mounted by a protective housing portion 80 projecting rearwardly from a transversely extending frame assembly 82 secured to the foot end frame assembly between the post assemblies 22 and 24 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 1 I and 4. The cables 38 entrained about the idler pulleys 78 then extend transversely toward pulley wheels 84 rotatably mounted on spindles 86 secured to the frame assembly 82 on opposite sides of the actuating mechanism 32 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 5. The cable members 38 then extend upwardly from the pulley members 84 toward a cable carrier member 88 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 4. The cables extend through a 180 degree tubular guide member 90 carried on the carrier member 88 by supporting spindle assemblies 92 on opposite sides thereof so that the cable may then extend downwardly toward the pulley members 94 also rotatably mounted on the same spindles 86 on which the pulley members 84 are mounted. The cables thereby extend from the pulley members 94 in a transverse direction toward the pulley members 96 rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite transverse ends of the frame assembly 82, said pulley members 96 projecting into the inner leg assemblies associated with the outer post assemblies 22 and 24 so that the cables may extend upwardly therefrom for anchoring to the upper end portions of the inner leg assemblies as hereinbefore described. It will therefore become apparent that the cables 38 may be tensioned for telescopically moving the post assemblies with respect to the leg assemblies by upward movement of the cable carrier member 88 of the actuating mechanism 32 in order to elevate the bed. Similarly, downward movement of the carrier member 88 will be effective to lower the bed by permitting the retracting spring members 64 to telescopically move the post assemblies and leg assemblies toward retracted positions.

The frame assembly 82 to which the protective housing portion 80 is connected, is secured to the foot end frame assembly 20 by means of anchor bolt assemblies 98 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 5 and 6 between which anchor bolt assemblies, the frame assembly 82 supports an upwardly extending housing portion 100 within which the cable carrier member 88 is slidably mounted. Accordingly, the cable carrier member is provided with a pair of projecting portions 102 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 8 carrying slide bearing elements 104 slidably engaging the rear wall portion of the housing 100. The carrier member 88 is also supported for vertical movement within the housing by means of a nut assembly 106 of the recirculating ball type having an anti-friction driving connection with the actuating screw shaft 1.08 provided with a spiral ball-receiving groove 110. This type of nut assembly is per se well known as indicated for example in Patent No. 2,933,939. The screw shaft 108 is provided adjacent opposite ends thereof, with dish-type thrust spring assemblies 112 through which axial thrust is applied to sleeve portions 114 and 116 connected to opposite end portions of the screw shaft as more clearly seen in FIGURES 4 and 7. A bevel gear 118 is connected to the sleeve portion 116 for rotation with the screw shaft while the sleeve portion 114 at the lower end portion of the screw shaft extends through the control brake assembly 34. The lower end portion of the screw shaft is also provided with a non-circular connecting portion 120 by means of which the output of an electric motor may be coupled to the screw shaft for rotation thereof. The motor under such circumstances, could then be conveniently bolted to the underside of the frame assembly. Alternatively, rotation may be imparted to the screw shaft 108 by manual manipulation of the crank assembly 36.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 11 in particular, it will be observed that the crank assembly 36 includes a crank member 122 having a hub portion 124 fastened in any suitable manner to a gear shaft 126 projecting through a sleeve bushing 128 mounted by the foot end frame assembly 20. Keyed to the end of the gear shaft 126 disposed within the housing 100, is a driving bevel gear 130 which meshes with the bevel gear 118 connected to the upper end of the screw shaft. Accordingly, rotation imparted through the crank member 122 to the bevel gear 130, may impart rotation in either direction to the screw shaft 108. A retractable handle assembly is therefore connected to the lower end of the crank member 122 including a knob 132 rotatably mounted on a spring seating member 134 within which the spring 136 bears against a portion 138 of a plunger 137 on which the knob 132 is assembled. Connected to one end of the plunger 137, is a button 140 disposed within a recess 142 of the knob so that when the knob is pulled outwardly the plunger 134 may retract the lockpin portion 144 thereof from the socket 146 at the lower end of the crank member 122 against the bias of the spring 136. The handle may then be released so as to pivot the clevis element 148 with respect to the crank member 122 from the solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the dotted line position. The handle may thereby be disposed in a non-projecting position for safety purposes. It will also be observed that the entire crank assembly may be disconnected and removed should adjustment be effected by an electric motor coupled to the lower end 120 of the screw shaft.

The anti-friction driving connection between the recirculating type of ball nut assembly 106 and the screw shaft will provide an efficient driving connection from the power source, whether it be the handle assembly or the electric motor, to the cable carrier member 88 for slidable displacement thereof in a vertical direction. It will however be appreciated, that the cable carrier member will be loaded by the load of the bed when it is displaced in an upward direction only. Accordingly, pursuant to the principles of the present invention, the control brake assembly 34 is provided for the purpose of preventing rotation of the screw shaft member in one direction due to the load applied to the cable carrier and also to load the screw shaft member when being rotated in the other direction so as to lower the cable carrier member 88, thereby equalizing the load against which the source of power must operate in lowering the bed with the load against which it must operate to elevate the bed. Referring therefore to FIGURE 7 in particular, it will be observed L? that the brake assembly 34 is supported above a supporting plate portion 150 secured to the frame assembly 82 upon which a freely rotatable annular brake element 152 rests. When axially loaded in a downward direction, any rotational torque applied to the brake element 152, will be resisted by a self-aligning, vibration absorbing the supporting plate washer 1S3 non-rotatably mounted in portion 151) to maintain uniform and constant brake contact with 152. Axial thrust is transmitted to the freely rotatable brake element 152 by the ball bearing elements 154 which rotatably support the annular drum element 156 thereabove. The drum element 156 is keyed together with the enclosing housing 158 to the sleeve portion 114 which in turn is keyed to the screw shaft 108. Accordingly, the upper drum element 156 will rotate with the screw shaft 108. It will also be observed, that a clamping coil spring 160 anchored to the drum element 156, is normally disposed in a contracted condition so as to clamp the lower drum element 152 for rotation with the upper drum element 156. Torque applied to the upper drum element 156 in one directional sense will therefore be operative to cause expansion of the spring limited by the outer housing 158 so as to release therefrom the lower drum element 152. Accordingly, when the screw shaft 108 is rotated in one direction so as to cause elevation of the cable carrier, an upward axial thrust will be applied to the screw shaft to immediately release the braking pressure applied to the lower drum element 152 while at the same time the rotational torque will be effective to expand the coil spring 160 so as to release the upper drum element 156 from the lower drum element 152 permitting free and unloaded rotation of the screw shaft except for the downward load exerted thereon through the cable carrier. When driving torque is removed from the screw shaft, the axial load of the cable carrier will then be effective once again to axially load the lower drum element 152 engaging the portion 150 while at the same time, the coil spring 160 will contract thereabout so as to thereby also prevent rotation of the screw shaft rotatably connected to the upper drum element 156. When driving torque is applied to the screw shaft in that rotational direction as to lower the cable carrier, rotation will be retarded by virtue of the fact that the driving torque will maintain the coil spring 160 in contracted condition rotatably coupling the upper and lower drum elements 156 and 152, with the lower drum element 152 being rotationally retarded by the washer 153. Therefore, the driving torque in the lowering direction will be resisted so as to equalize the resistive torque which opposes driving torque applied to the screw shaft in the opposite direction for elevating the cable carrier. Equal driving effort will therefore be required for both elevating and lowering the bed.

From the foregoing description, the operation and utility of the adjustable bed of the present invention will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that facilitated adjustment of the bed may be accomplished through use of the recirculating type of ball nut and screw type of actuating mechanism without requiring any complicated brake applying mechanism through use of the drive release brake assembly 34. Also, equalization of the driving effort required for both raising and lowering of the bed will enable more accurate adjustments in either direction through use of an electric power source capable of being conveniently mounted as an alternative source of power for manual power.

The adjustable bed construction of the present invention also features means for anchoring the upper ends of the retracting springs to the post assemblies as well as to provide facilities for mounting the supporting rods of any type of overbed frame assembly. Accordingly, as more clearly seen in FIGURE 9, each of the post assemblies is provided with beveled upper ends 162 adapted to seat end closure portions 164 of the post cap assemblies 72. Connected to the end cap closure portions 164, are

downwardly projecting socket portions 166 having a downwardly tapering opening 168 within which to receive any supporting rod element 171 as shown by dotted lines. The socket portion 166 is also provided at the lower end thereof with a spring anchor portion 170 to which the hooks 70 of the spring members are connected. The cap assemblies 72 are secured in place by a pair of fasteners 172 that extend through the upper end portion of the post assemblies. In order to prevent accumulation of dust within the openings 168 of the cap assemblies, the closure end portions 164 thereof through which the openings 168 are exposed, are provided with socket cover elements 174 pivotally mounted on pins 176 and spring biased by the spring elements 17 8 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 9. A recess 1811 is therefore provided within the end closure portion 164 for receiving the socket cover 174 when depressed downwardly by insertion of a supporting rod element 171 against the bias of the spring element 178. Therefore, upon removal of the supporting rod element 171 from the opening 168, the spring element 178 will automatically bias the socket cover 174 to its closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 9. Thus, the post cap assemblies 72 will function in cooperation with the cable assembly 30 to anchor the retracting springs 64 adjacent upper ends of the post assemblies for more effectively controlling the elevation and lowering of the bed and yet permit the post assemblies to supportingly receive supporting rod elements. Removal of the supporting rod elements will also automatically restore the end cap closure assemblies to a condition preventing accumulation of dust within the upper end portion of the post assemblies. It will therefore be appreciated from the foregoing, that the various attributes of the adjustable bed assembly considered either singly or in cooperation with each other, will find particular usefulness in connection with hospital purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In an adjustable bed construction having a foot end frame assembly supported between a pair of posts telescopingly mounting legs and cable means interconnecting the legs for extension thereof against the bias of retracting springs anchored to the legs and posts; actuating mechanism for the cable means comprising, antifriction drive means mounted on the frame assembly and connected to the cable means for elevating and lowering the posts with respect to the legs, and drive release brake means operatively connected to the anti-friction drive means for loading thereof in one direction to substantially equal the elevating load when lowering the posts.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said antifriction drive means comprises an elongated screw shaft,

recirculating ball nut means threadedly engageable with said screw shaft, a cable carrier mounted on the ball nut means and guidingly engageable with the frame assembly for vertical displacement with the ball nut means, gear means drivingly connected to the screw shaft at an upper end thereof adapted to be driven by a manually operated crank and means mounted on a lower end of said screw shaft below the drive release brake means for powered drive of the shaft.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said drive release brake means comprises, a drive member connected to the screw shaft, a brake member rotatably mounted on the screw shaft in frictional engagement with the frame assembly, coil spring means releasa-bly coupling the drive member and the brake member and responsive to rotation of the screw shaft in one direction to expand and release, thrust bearing means rotatably mounting the drive member on the brake member and operative to transmit axial thrust to the brake member in response to rotation of the screw shaft in the other direction to frictionally load the brake member.

4. The combination of claim 3, including removable caps closing upper ends of said posts, each of said caps including downwardly projecting socket means to which one end of a retracting spring is connected, said retracting spring extending from an upper end of the leg, and a spring biased cover element mounted on each cap and retractable therewithin to expose said socket means whereby an auxiliary frame support element is adapted to be received therewithin.

5. In an adjustable bed having a frame assembly and cable means for elevating and lowering the bed, actuating mechanism for the cable means comprising, anti-friction drive means mounted on the frame assembly and connected to the cable means for elevating and lowering the bed, an elongated screw shaft, recirculating ball nut means threadedly engageable with said screw shaft, a cable carrier mounted on the ball nut means and guidingly engageable with the frame assembly for vertical displacement with the ball nut means, gear means drivingly connected to the screw shaft at an upper end thereof adapted to be driven by a manually operated crank and means mounted on a lower end of said screw shaft below the drive release brake means for powered drive of the shaft, said drive release brake means comprising, a drive member connected to the screw shaft, a brake member rotatably mounted on the screw shaft in frictional engagement with the frame assembly, coil spring means releasably coupling the drive member and the brake member and responsive to rotation of the screw shaft in one direction to expand and release, thrust bearing means rotatably mounting the drive member on the brake member and operative to transmit axial thrust to the brake member in response to rotation of the screw shaft in the other direction to frictionally load the brake member.

6. In an adjustable bed construction having a frame assembly supported between a pair of posts telescopingly mounting legs for extension thereof against the bias of retracting springs anchored to the legs and posts; removable caps closing upper ends of said posts, each of said caps including downwardly projecting socket means to which one end of a retracting spring is connected, said retracting spring extending from an upper end of the leg, and a spring biased cover element mounted on each cap and retractable therewithin to expose said socket means whereby an auxiliary frame support element is adapted to be received therewithin.

7. In a bed frame assembly having vertical posts, a removable cap closing an upper end of each of said posts, each cap including socket means projecting downwardly into the post, a spring biased cover element mounted on each cap and retractible therewithin to expose said socket means whereby an auxiliary frame support element is adapted to be received in the socket means, and means mounted within each post and connected to the socket means for yieldably holding the cap on the upper end of the post.

8. In adjustable bed construction having a frame assembly and extensible legs, means for elevating and lowering the frame assembly relative the legs comprising, anti-friction drive means mounted on the frame assembly, flexible means operatively connecting the drive means to the legs for loading thereof in an elevating direction only, biasing means interconnecting the legs with the frame assembly to overcome any resistance to movement in a lowering direction imposed by the anti-friction drive means, a source of power drivingly connected to the drive means to overcome the loading on the drive means in either direction for elevating or lowering the frame assembly and drive release brake means operatively connected to the drive means for loading thereof in the lowering direction only to equalize the loading on the drive means in both directions whereby equal efforts are required to elevate and lower the frame assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,851 3/1923 Bjorge 18882.6 1,526,806 2/1925 Schurmann 188-826 X 2,339,075 1/1944 Hollnagel 5-63 2,555,160 5/1951 Schwarz 5-63 X 2,827,641 3/1958 Reichert et a1 563 2,872,688 2/1959 Reichert et a1 563 3,015,113 1/1962 Wallen 563 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,260 9/ 1956 Sweden.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

5. IN A ADJUSTABLE BED HAVING A FRAME ASSEMBLY AND CABLE MEANS FOR ELEVATING AND LOWERING THE BED, ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR THE CABLE MEANS COMPRISING, ANTI-FRICTION DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTED TO THE CABLE MEANS FOR ELEVATING AND LOWERING THE BED, AN ELONGATED SCREW SHAFT, RECIRCULATING BALL NUT MEANS THREADEDLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SCREW SHAFT, A CABLE CARRIER MOUNTED ON THE BALL NUT MEANS AND GUIDINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT WITH THE BALL NUT MEANS, GEAR MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO THE SCREW SHAFT AT AN UPPER END THEREOF ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY A MANUALLY OPERATED CRANK AND MEANS MOUNTED ON A LOWER END OF SAID SCREW SHAFT BELOW THE DRIVE RELEASE BRAKE MEANS FOR POWERED DRIVE OF THE SHAFT, SAID DRIVE 